Having long made a promise to her husband, young widow Annabel has no intentions of breaking it. What she does plan to do, though, is have a baby. Not the easiest of tasks for a woman with a deceased other half, and having explored all her options, her only choice is to take the unconventional route. Setting out to find her own donor, Annabel meets Dan. Single, fun-loving and definitely not looking for commitment, this unruly blonde, blue-eyed man seems perfect for the job.
Dan wants nothing more than to find his dream woman. But with a mother intent on sabotaging his every relationship, he can't help but think he's destined to remain single. Of course, he knows his mother doesn't really want him all for herself, why else would she keep insisting he meet Maeve? Why else would she insist Dan promise to find himself a wife before she meets her maker?
Forced to negotiate matters of love, life and death, Annabel and Dan seem the answer to each other's prayers. But will they really be able to keep the promises they made? And is having a baby really the answer?
I'm a full time writer, lucky enough to live between the UK and France. And when I'm not tapping away on the computer creating my own literary masterpiece, I usually have my head in someone else's.
This was such an adorable, fun read! It's told from both Annabel and Dan's perspective and it flips back and forth each chapter. The premise was cute, Annabel is a widow who wants to have a baby and is looking for a sperm donor and Dan is happily single but his mother really wants him to settle down. It's not as predictable as I had assumed it may be based on the blurb, the author had quite a few tricks up her sleeve that kept me engaged.
I really liked Annabel and couldn't help but feel for her. Being widowed so young must be devastating and she still managed to have a positive outlook on life. Dan was a pretty clueless guy but he did have his charms, though there were times I wanted to smack some sense into him! My favorite character was actually a secondary one and that was Dan's mom. She was hilarious and brought so much life to the story. She's a little troublemaker and was such a vivacious addition to a sweet story.
This was a really fast paced read, a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Despite it's somewhat heavy subject matter it was lighthearted though it did have it's emotional moments. Tullett has a very descriptive, vivid writing style and discusses the characters feelings and emotional outlook quite a bit. It was really heartfelt and touching, a truly fun read.
Oh My! What an absolutely wonderful novel The Trouble With Words is.
There really is nothing I can find fault with in this novel. Not that I would go into a novel looking for faults but it just ticked every box for me. I absolutely loved it. From the story line to the characters, it really is just perfect.
You are probably going to see the word, love, quite often in this review as I just loved everything about it. The characters I just loved but mainly Annabel, Dan and his mum.
Annabel my heart went out to. She is still a young woman with everything to live for but has lost her soul mate and rushes into thinking a baby is the answer to solve all her problems.
Along comes Dan who Annabel decides is a worthy sperm donor. Dan is just soooooooo lovely. If I was to have a book crush on a character it would be Dan. He is sweet, adorable and I just loved him to bits. Dan’s relationship with his mother is just the sweetest thing you will ever read. I wasn’t sure whether I should think it weird that a grown man was still living at home with his mother but do you know what who cares, as if anything for me, getting older and having two teenagers, one being a boy, it filled me full of hope that my children wouldn’t just fly the nest and forget all about me.
Dan’s mum brings so much to this story. I don’t want to go into the story line to much as the less said the better but I was filled with so many emotions and it’s just one of the stories that when I got to the end I felt a gaping void as I didn’t want to leave the characters behind. I wanted them to stay with me always.
The Trouble With Words is without a doubt one of my favourite reads of 2017, I just loved it so much. It is a bitter sweet read that had me a blubbering wreck by the end. It may be the end of the book but I know that those three characters will remain in my heart for a good while to come. If you just read one book this year, then please let it be this one.
The Trouble with Words is a fast-paced and easy read, perfectly enjoyable and a good way to spend a couple of hours. Though this book touches on some serious themes, and delivers some realistic emotions, it’s not really a heavy read. The combination of sadness and humour mixed together well and I enjoyed both aspects, though thanks to a fun group of characters I preferred the laugh-out-loud moments more than the more emotional parts which at times felt a little too close to home for me. This was the first book I’d read by Suzie but I will be looking out for more.
A lot of this story is based on promises, and that’s what the two main characters, Annabel and Dan, had in common. I liked the unconventional way they knew each other, rather than them being a couple or obvious love interests. Annabel had made a promise to her sadly bereaved husband Tom – that she would stay faithful forever. She doesn’t plan on breaking that promise, nor does she seem that interested in pursuing other relationships either, but she does decide she wants a baby whilst she still has the chance. Looking for a sperm donor, she stumbles upon Dan, who doesn’t seem to have much of a care in the world until a discussion with his mum sees him promise to find a wife while she’s still alive. Neither Dan nor Annabel are looking that successful with keeping their promises and that’s what I found interesting about this novel – seeing how it would all work out. Because there were times when I couldn’t imagine either happening so I wondered where Suzie would take the story. I really enjoyed how things played out.
Admittedly, this story took me a while to get into. Early on, I found I couldn’t connect to the characters, not just Annabel and Dan but Annabel’s best friend Katy too. I didn’t struggle reading it but because I didn’t like the characters quickly, I wasn’t really invested in where things were going. But thankfully it didn’t take me much longer before the characters all seemed to grow on me. Getting to know Dan and his mum helped, because Dan’s mum especially was a real character and I loved her personality. I loved how she always challenged Dan and looked interfering when deep down, she was a big softie at heart just wanting the best for her son. They had a close bond and that brought across well some of the funny and some of the tender moments in the story. Though I wasn’t mad keen on Katy or Annabel’s sister, Rebecca, when all three of them were together, especially later on in the book, they made me laugh, sometimes simply because of how ridiculous they were. Humour was a strong point in Suzie’s writing.
Though I liked getting to know Annabel and Dan individually, I also found it interesting seeing if and how they would connect together. Neither of them suggest they want a relationship but then they both at times have doubts on what they really want, including the promises they’d made. I liked the contrast between the characters but also how they could relate to each other. Annabel was mostly quite considerate and understanding with Dan although at times I think that was forgotten as she got a bit carried away. I found both her and Dan to be likeable but I think I would have being able to connect with Annabel more had we been able to learn more about aspects of her relationship with Tom. She was still grieving and eager to remain loyal to him, which felt realistic and believable, but I wanted to be able to understand why she loved him so much and what it was about him. The kind of things they’d gone through. I felt like with Dan, through his relationship with his mum, I could understand his emotions more and get to know him better.
I enjoyed the pacing of The Trouble with Words and whizzed through the book in a couple of hours. Writing this review, I’m still giggling at some of the one-liners and humorous moments. Despite the book being quite short, Suzie added some depth to a quick story and kept it engaging throughout – I didn’t feel like there was too much more I wanted to know or things that were missing. Overall, this was a light, quick-witted read with a heart-warming ending and a nice positive message – I’m glad I’ve read it.
This book was a little gem of a romantic comedy that grabbed my attention as soon as I opened it to that first page. I can’t remember the last time I got weepy whilst reading this genre of book but I absolutely sobbed at least twice! I’m turning into a big softie in my old age!
The characters are all beautifully crafted here, there wasn’t a single one that I didn’t like and they all played their parts perfectly in this generously layered comedy drama. From the first chapter I was hooked as Annabel talks to her dead husband and comes to realise that she now needs a baby to make her life complete. I was desperate for her to get her Happy Ever After even though I knew that her path to that goal was going to be a tricky one. And then she met Dan! I loved Dan! Still living with his mother, I was expecting a mummys boy but what I got was a hilarious but mostly incredibly poignant mother/son relationship. Dan’s mum really made this book for me and I was often snorting out loud at some of the things she came out with! And as Annabel and Dan’s relationship progressed, there were a few stings in the tail that seemed determined to prevent them from following their hearts. This isn’t a sickly sweet romance as there is an edge cutting through the comedy leading to a bittersweet twist that surprised me but also felt right.
Suzie Tullett has a way with words that will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. She engages her readers, taking them on an emotional journey with a cast of characters who felt like friends by the end. And she has also left me wanting to know what Annabel and Dan are up to now as they became part of my life whilst reading The Trouble With Words and I miss them!
Definitely a recommended read for lovers of romantic comedy.
What an amazing story. I was hooked from the first page. A beau th I fully written human story that I'm sure many can relate to. I love Suzie's books. She writes from the heart. What a decision poor Annabel had to make. Although there are many light moments in this story. It is a'can't put down' book. Well done Suzie Tullett
Annabel was lucky enough to find the love of her life in the form of her husband Tom. Yet, all the big plans they had for their life together were rudely interrupted when Tom is involved in a car crash and Annabel unexpectedly becomes a young widow. Now, years later, Annabel thinks she's ready to move on. Not with another man, because she wants to keep the promise she once made to Tom, but to have a baby. On her search for the right man to be a donor, she bumps into Dan, who is attractive, friendly, and willing to help Annabel while he's on his search to find his dream woman. Annabel and Dan seem to have a deal, but as other things come in the way, both of them start to have doubts: is having a baby really the answer and might there perhaps be more to this than just a basic agreement...?
Suzie Tullett has created a thoroughly enjoyable novel with 'The Trouble with Words', which has a story at its centre that really warmed my heart. While the basic plotline is not particularly original (single woman looking for a sperm donor to have a child she plans on raising by herself, friends and family do not think it's a good idea), the author gave it her own twist and turned it into something that held my attention and made me want to read on and find out more. One of the absolute strengths of the novel is the combination of the two main characters, Annabel and Dan. The story is told from both their perspectives, resulting in two complementing storylines. Annabel has been through a lot and I just instantly liked her. Dan finds himself in a challenging situation together with his mother, and I just loved both Dan and his mum; they were great characters.
The author's writing style was comfortable to read; well-paced and the novel wasn't too long (in print roughly 192 pages), resulting in a relatively quick read for me. There was a lot of description in the story; more description than dialogue, I felt, but after getting used to it I really enjoyed it and also think it fitted the story. I'm really glad I got the chance to discover Susie Tullett's writing and already look forward to seeing what she will come up with next. Overall, 'The Trouble with Words' is a heart-warming, quick, and simply lovely read about love, family, and finding happiness; I really enjoyed it!
I really enjoyed this story about young widow Annabel's quest to have a baby, some time after the death of her beloved husband Tom. Annabel feels her biological clock ticking but has no desire to replace Tom having promised to be faithful forever. During a chance meeting with the lovely Dan, and fuelled by alcohol, she asks him to be the father of her child. This is to be purely a practical arrangement, no strings, no further involvement from Dan. Dan seems to be a commitment-phobe having a seemingly endless string of girlfriends, none of whom last long. However, it is really Dan's mother who is the problem. Over bearing and interfering and determined to see her only son settled, she scares most girls off!
What I thought Suzie Tullett does very well in this book is to make you feel and understand her characters complex emotions. Annabel is still missing her husband and really looking for love but denies herself the opportunity. When she realises she rather likes Dan, she feels so guilty she refuses to accept the possible chance of happiness. Dan also develops feelings for Annabel but won't admit it either. He is having a huge crisis in his life and I thought that this aspect of the story was dealt with very sensitively. The trouble with words is it's not always easy to say what you really feel.
I seem to have made this book sound like it's a heavy going story of grief and love-denied but it's not at all. It's a charming love story with lots of funny moments such as the one involving Dan's mum and a drug bust! In fact my opinion of Dan's mum changed a lot throughout the book and I ended up really liking her. And as for the end of the book, well you may need a hankie or two! From the most unlikely situation, Suzie Tullett creates an ending that will have you smiling - and perhaps sniffing a little too!
Annabel wants a baby,which is what her and her husband planned to do before he died but now Annabel wants to find a donor and do it by herself. Like any non sensible person she grabs the first decent man she sees in the pub and asks him to oblige. Luckily it turns out that Dan is a decent man.
No one else thinks this is a good idea as Annabel is still in love with her husband but can Dan change that? I enjoyed this story, it was very bittersweet. It was the story of a widow moving on from the death of her husband. Annabel still went to her husband's grave to tell him what was happening in her life, but it's lonely when you get no answer back. I didn't think Annabel was doing the right thing in looking for a sperm donor as it meant she was giving up on finding love again.
I think Dan was lonely too, he still lived with his mother never finding the right woman who lived up to her expectations. She was desperate to get him together with her old friend's daughter and no one else would do. I didn't like Dan's mother at all through most of the story I thought she interfered with her son's love life too much and I couldn't understand why he didn't get his own place to live. I liked her more towards the end of the book when she seemed to soften. There are many funny moments with Annabel and her sister and her friend and some parts are really sad when she speaks to her deceased husband. The question seems to be,when can you move on? When can you start to want the things that make you happy? And can you do it without the person who you thought was the love of your life? This book makes you ask all these questions and more.
It's always an honor to receive a book from the author asking you to give an honest review about it. It means they value your review and your ability to review without any pretense. Therefore, I'm going to give this an honest review:
This book has been a breeze to read. It is one of those books I could read just to pass the time while on a long bus ride. This is about second chances. Annabel and Dan badly need their chances to have their happy ending. Annabel who always have been hung up with the death of her husband finally had the balls to try to move on. Although there were times she think that it would betray her promise to her husband, she is in the part of her life where she wants to desperately want a baby. So desperate that being a single mom would be okay despite her sister and best friend's effort to stop her. Dan is someone who I think wants to have his happy ever after without his mother breathing down his neck and partnering him up with her friend's daughter. An unfortunate circumstance might befall him but when a great devastation comes, there's always hope in the end and I think that is what Annabel would symbolize for Dan. Its nice to see that both of them would get their second chances and that they compliment each other. The future may be uncertain but at least they took the chance.
would like to thank Hanna from Safkhet publishing for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Annabel was determined to follow her dead husbands wishes to have a baby. He wanted a baby before he was taken from her and she always put it off until suddenly it's too late. When she meets Dan it seems to be the perfect solution to both of their problems.
I liked Annabel but at times she really did annoy me and the same with Dan, although I can't really say why. The story is really sweet and the storyline really pulls at the heartstrings.
One of my favourite characters was Dan's mother Gerry she is a shining light in this book and I hope that Suzie decides to write her story at some point.
I really enjoyed this book!! It was a great story and I loved the characters, Dan’s mum in particular had me giggling at times and I thought that she was an absolutely great addition who added so much to the story. The novel has its ups and downs emotionally and whilst I knew that the story had to have an ending, I really didn’t want get to that part, it really was the heart-warming romantic comedy that it was billed to be and I loved how I felt when reading it – it really did allow me to escape, grab some me time and relax, something I have been craving with a three week old baby! Definitely a five star read for me and I am looking forward to reading more from Suzie.
I have been reading this book as a 2nd book to my main read and feel that it msy have taken some of the enjoyment out of it for me.
I didn't dislike it. I found it very easy to read and could just lose myself in the story without having to concentrate too much. I thought it was quite predictable but I enjoyed the simplicity of it.
It is pretty much a girl meets boy situatiin with Annabel and Dan meeting under unusual circumstances and the story concentrates on how they deal with their growing relationship with each other as well the ones with those closest to them. We get to go along for the ride as they discover not everything is as it seems.
I found myself smiling a lot during the course of this book, Susie writes in such a way that she really brings the atomsphere to life. Although there is alot of death and sadness in this story, Susie manages to make the balance between heart break and happiness just right. The sad scenes are also written in such a way that they don't make you feel too down after reading it. Despite the deep story matter the book still leaves you feeling like Annabel and Dan are exactly where they should be and you close the book with a heart full of warmth and a sigh of happiness.
For anyone that needs a book to take your mind off day to day life I definitely recommend giving this a shot!
I really enjoyed this book!! It was a great story and I loved the characters, Dan’s mum in particular had me giggling at times and I thought that she was an absolutely great addition who added so much to the story. The novel has its ups and downs emotionally and whilst I knew that the story had to have an ending, I really didn’t want get to that part, it really was the heart-warming romantic comedy that it was billed to be and I loved how I felt when reading it – it really did allow me to escape, grab some me time and relax, something I have been craving with a three week old baby! Definitely a five star read for me and I am looking forward to reading more from Suzie.
So sweet. So poignant. Bittersweet. I had tears. Brought back memories of my dad. He had that cancer. But luckily, VA Memphis caught it. This story is about the future, even for all the sad moments. In ways I wish I hadn't read this but mostly I am glad to have found it. Thanks Suzie.
You know, I had absolutely no idea what to expect with 'The Trouble With Words'. Ironically enough, I struggled to find the words to gauge a first impression based on the cover alone. However, as soon as I began reading Suzie Tullett's novel, I soon started to realise that 'The Trouble With Words' goes a lot deeper than the cover suggests.
Would I read the book based on the cover alone? Probably not.
Would I read the book based on the strength of the content? Damn right I would!!
I cannot find the words to tell you exactly how much I loved this book! The storyline is unique, the characters are complex and original, and the heart-warming factor is off the Richter scale.
Annabel would do anything to become a mum, but the thing is, she can't exactly pop into her local Hobby craft for a DIY baby kit! She needs an important ingredient to make her dream of motherhood, became a reality. Annabel's family and friends think that she is losing her marbles, but will that stop her from getting what she wants?
I wasn't expecting Dan to be the type of character that he ended up being, if that makes sense. I guess that because of the way he and Annabel met, I half expected a character less three-dimensional. I adored Dan's character. It's was just a shame that his life within the storyline wasn't as plain sailing as he would have hoped it would be. My heart went out to him multiple times, even though at times his mother got on my nerves (that was before the bombshell, just to clarify!).
Once I became invested in the storyline (pretty quickly actually), I couldn't put Suzie Tullett's novel down. I didn't want to put it down. Would Annabel make her dream come true? Will Dan's mother accept Dan's life? I had to find out those answers, and more, to many questions that seemed to invade my head throughout this novel.
'The Trouble With Words' made me teary, made my heart swell, made me laugh, but, most importantly, it made me finish reading it with a smile upon my face. It's not often that a book can leave me smiling like that, but Suzie Tullett's novel did just that.
Beautiful, heart-wrenching, and totally satisfying; 'The Trouble With Words' melted a bit of the ice around my Ice Queen style heart. The perfect antidote for any bad days, 'The Trouble With Words' has zero trouble with the words in this fantastic story. Absolutely loved it. A very glittery and well deserved 5 stars.
This is my first taste of writing from Suzie Tullett, the cover looks coy, the blurb intriguing and the title could mean anything so I almost went into The Trouble With Words blind without any feedback from other readers to influence my choice.
Well, as soon as I started reading I could tell I was going to enjoy it. It has that lure of a cosy, sweet but at times tragic feel.
Annabel is a young woman who like many feels her maternal clock ticking and yearns for a baby, sadly this isn’t going to be simple because she is a widow. I admire the way she ‘talks’ to Tom her husband, very poignant but he gave her comfort while she decides the best approach to get what she wants.
Dan is the adorable guy who could possibly be her worthy solution. His relationship with his mum is just delightful. But like a lot of mother’s of sons she wants the best for him.
There is so much thought invested in this book, it could have been predictable and cheesy but Suzie pulls together so many elements to keep the reader on their toes never quite sure what emotion is going to be touched next.
I liked all the characters because they all bought something unique to the mix. I don’t want to give any clues away but there is one specific section which is way too close to home for me but it is written so beautifully that I was there just wanting to offer my arms for a hug.
By the time I reached the end I felt a little bereft .. these people worked their way into my heart. The Trouble With Words is a well crafted read that encompasses some very heavy topics but allows the reader to see the positive side as well.
Suzie is an author to watch out for and I will be happy to read whatever comes next. Thanks to Bombshell books and Sarah for inviting me onto the blog tour. I read and reviewed voluntarily.
It was so easy to be pulled into Annabel's story and her heart wrenching past. From picking up this book I didn't actually look up until Chapter 5 when I suddenly realised I was thirsty. So off I went to make a cuppa, I then sat back down and didn't move until I had finished it. Suzie Tullett has created some wonderful characters that defintely tugged at my heart strings. Even though some of the events in this story were sad there were also some funny moments that helped to balance the mood brilliantly.
Annabel longs for a baby but in her position this is never going to be easy so meeting Dan seems ideal. They were a perfect pair with a wonderful chemistry but life isn't easy and can they get their happy ending? I love that the story is told from the perspective of both Annabel and Dan. I always think that you get a better feel for the characters this way along with a more rounded story. Dan is well kind of perfect with such a sweet and caring personality. It is so endearing how he tries to make his mum happy and the relationship they share made me smile on more than one occasion. I loved some of the things she came out with definitely a great addition to the story.
The Trouble With Words made me pretty emotional but also left me with a wonderful sense of hope that was just perfect. This story brings so much to the reader engaging characters, an emotional pull and a lovely heart warming feeling.
Emotional but with a warmth that seemed to leap from the pages.
5 stars!
With thanks to Sarah & Bombshell Books for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
This is advertised on Amazon as ' a heart-warming romantic comedy'
Be warned. It isn't heart-warming, or a comedy.
Daniel's mother is dying of oesophageal cancer which has spread to her spine. Is that 'comedy'? I think not. Neither is the way the write glosses over the excruciating pain and suffering she would have endured.
I don't want to read about people dying in agonising ways in a 'romantic comedy'. I read romantic comedy to get away from real life, not to be slapped in the face with a sanitised account of someone slowly choking to death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Hooked from the beginning, loved the characters and the premise for the story.
Wasn't quite as light as I was expecting, which gave the book an emotional maturity that was set perfectly within the comedy moments.
A creative story with some emotional moments that had my heart twisted. The characters were amazingly well written, and invested in them from the beginning for various reasons.
A fantastic novel, perfect for summer reading or curling up and escaping the world for a while
In an Oyster Shell – It’s a cozy simple romance, that will warm your heart.
The Pearls – I really liked the premise of the story. I have read books that start with similar premises and this one played out- in a more unique way.
This book was unfortunately not as good as I'd hoped. I found it to be quite slow and Annabel annoyed the hell out of me. It's only redeeming feature was Dan, it is for him alone that this story gets 2☆.